Little Portugal, London

Little Portugal is the nickname for the Portuguese-speaking community centered around South Lambeth Road in South London. Situated between Vauxhall to the north, Nine Elms to the west, Stockwell to the south, Brixton further south, and Oval to the east, the area is known for its strong Lusophone presence. South Lambeth Road and its surrounding streets are home to numerous Portuguese cafés, bars, and food shops, offering an authentic taste of Portugal. According to Lambeth's 2030 Borough Plan and the 2021 United Kingdom census, there are 9,009 Portuguese speakers, making it one of the borough's most significant linguistic communities and the largest Portuguese-speaking community in London. Followed by Brent, which has a growing Portuguese-speaking community, mostly from Brazil.

However, in 2015, it was estimated that the number of Portuguese speakers is between 30,000 and 35,000 in the borough, with an increasing number of speakers moving to the south, to places such as Tulse Hill and West Norwood.

History

Many families from Portugal first moved to the Golborne Road area in Notting Hill, and other areas around Ladbroke Grove. But due to factor such as increasing rents, families started moving to south of the River Thames and started living in what we now call Little Portugal. The ''Lisboa'' café which first opened in Notting Hill, opened its second café on South Lambeth Road.

Little Portugal Mural

In 2023, Lambeth Council and the Mayor of London funded for a mural to be installed celebrating Little Portugal, this mural was painted by Eduarda Craveiro (of Portuguese descent) and Alex Bowie. The ''Coração de Viana'' (Heart of Viana, a traditional Portuguese symbol) is the central element, filled with the silhouettes of icons from Portuguese-speaking countries around the world. The colours inside are taken from the traditional dress of Madeira and also the flags of the Portuguese-speaking countries around the world. The mural was unveiled by Amy Lamé, the night czar at the time (on behalf of the Mayor of London), the Portuguese Consul, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Claire Holland and the Portuguese-speaking and local Councillor Diogo Costa for Oval ward.

Modern community

Majority of the Portuguese-speaking community in Little Portugal can trace its history to Madeira, as well as some cities in Continental Portugal such as Mangualde. According to the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2.2% of Lambeth's population was born in Portugal (including Madeira and Azores) and 2.5% having Portuguese identity. Little Portugal is home to a number of schools with a high Portuguese-speaking pupil number such as Wyvil Primary (with the highest numbers nearly 25% and where Portuguese is taught as the Modern foreign language) as well as St Stephen's Church of England Primary School and Stockwell Primary School.

There is also a growing Portuguese African and Brazilian population.

Electoral history

Parliamentary elections

Prior to 2023 review of Westminster constituencies, Vauxhall constituency covered the entirety of Little Portugal. Since the 2024 general election, Little Portugal has been split between Vauxhall and Camberwell Green and Clapham and Brixton Hill constituencies.

Florence Eshalomi MP, representing, Vauxhall and Camberwell Green, she also happens to sit on the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Portugal.

Bell Ribeiro-Addy, representing, Clapham and Brixton Hill, she happens to also have a Portuguese surname, Ribeiro.

Local elections

Prior to 2022

Little Portugal spans many local electoral boundaries, prior to the boundary changes of 2022 by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, the following wards were considered to be part of Little Portugal:

* Prince's
* Oval
* Stockwell
* Larkhall.

Post-2022

Under the changes made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England for the 2022 Lambeth London Borough Council election, the new wards which form part of Little Portugal are:

* Kennington
* Vauxhall
* Oval
* Stockwell East
* Stockwell West and Larkhall.

Portuguese-speaking councillors

The first known Portuguese-speaking person to stand for election to Lambeth Council was Gabriel Fernandes in 2002 for Stockwell ward for the Liberal Democrats, where he was duly elected. In 2003, there was a by-election in the ward caused by Fernandes and being guilty of benefit fraud, resulting in his party losing the seat to Labour.

In 2010, the Portuguese-speaker, Fernanda Correia-Sefzick tried to regain the seat for the Liberal Democrats, but failed.

In 2014, there were three Portugues-speaking candidates for Stockwell, Rosa for Labour, Correia-Sefzick again for the Liberal Democrats and Joana Santos for the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC). Rosa won the seat, making him the 2nd known Portuguese-speaking councillor to be elected in the London Borough of Lambeth.

In the 2022 elections, Labour Party candidate Diogo Costa was elected in Oval, making him the 3rd Portuguese-speaking councillor elected onto Lambeth Council. Diogo Costa was also the youngest councillor elected in that election, having been elected at the age of 23, born in Lambeth and with his parents from Mangualde.

See also

* Brixton
* Stockwell
* Portuguese in the United Kingdom

References

External links

Profile on Little Portugal

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Portugal–United Kingdom relations
Little Portugal
Districts of the London Borough of Lambeth
Areas of London
Brazilian communities
Portuguese neighborhoods
Portuguese diaspora in the United Kingdom